For a large part of this contest; it was more about the chances missed rather than chances taken; as both sides contrived to make a right meal of it; leading to a goal-less stalemate deep into this wintry contest. Things were perhaps best summarised by the physical conquests of first Edinson Cavani on Yerry Mina; then the 'hamburger barge' of Bruno Fernandes & Eric Bailly on Richarlison that left the latter in a stranded heap & him having to leave the contest. And another moment that symbolized this contest was substitute Anthony Martial; put through brilliantly by Fernandes; who proceeded to do the 'fatal mis-kick' by touching the ball with his right instead of striking it with his left.
United did have the better of the chances in this contest; notably in the opening 25 minutes when they more or less battered the Everton goal without somehow taking the lead; and it was they who ended the contest with the match-defining flourish. Martial; leading the breakaway; found Cavani in a promising position; and the Uruguayan legend proceeded to move the ball to his left side before unleashing a corker that flew into the net; beating the previously-impregnable Robin Olsen.
Everton pushed up in a frenzy; desperate to repair the contest; but as is so often the case these days; United are devastating on the counter; and they did so again with another substitute Marcus Rashford; this time playing provider as he teed up Martial for a side-footed second; and United's march into the semi-finals.
No comments:
Post a Comment